fort monroe

HOT WEATHER INJURIES

CW5 DICK WILLIAMS

HOT WEATHER INJURIES

• TYPES

• HEAT TRANSFER

• HIGH RISK PERSONNEL
•SALT REPLENISHMENT
•TOOLS FOR PREVENTION

• WATER PROCUREMENT

• WATER COLLECTION

• HAZARDS DURING SURVIVAL

Heat Injury Categories

Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke

i

HEAT CRAMP
SYMPTOMS

HEAT CRAMPS

• Heavy Sweating

• Muscular cramps of the arms, legs,
or abdomen

• Excessive thirst

HEAT CRAMPS

FIRST AID

HEAT CRAMPS

• Move casualty to shade or improvise
shade

• Loosen clothing

• Give large amounts of water to drink

• Monitor and give water as tolerated

HEAT EXHAUSTION

SYMPTOMS

HEAT EXHAUSTION

• Heavy sweating

• Pale, moist, cool skin

• Headache

• Weakness

• Dizziness

• Loss of appetite

Possible Symptoms

• Heat cramps

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Urge to defecate

• Rapid breathing

• Confusion

• Tingling of hands and/or feet

HEAT EXHAUSTION

FIRST AID

HEAT EXHAUSTION

Move casualty to shade or improvise
shade

Pour water on him and fan him to
permit coolant effect of evaporation

Give at least one canteen of cool
water to drink

Elevate the legs
Seek medical aid if symptoms persist

persist

HEAT STROKE

SYMPTOMS

HEAT STROKE

• Stoppage of sweating

• Hot, dry skin (flushed)

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Fast Pulse and respiration

• Seizures

• Mental confusion

HEAT STROKE

FIRST AID

HEAT STROKE

THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY!

EVAC as soon as possible

Move casualty to shade or
improvise shade

Loosen or remove outer clothing

Place casualty in cold water bath
to lower temperature

HEAT STROKE

• Spray or pour water over casualty and
fan him continuously

• Massage extremities

• Elevate his legs

• If conscious, Have him slowly drink at
least one canteen of cool water

HEAT

•Radiation

•Conduction

•Convection

I

Evaporation

RADIATION

•The transfer of heat from an
object of intense heat to to
an object of lower
temperature by radiant
energy

CONDUCTION

Will

...

The transfer of heat from
molecule to molecule of
adjacent objects. The
proximity of these objects
will determine the overall
rate of conduction

CONVECTION

•The transfer of heat in liquids or
gases in which molecules are free
to move. During body heat loss,
the body heats the surrounding air;
the heated air expands and rises

because it is displaced by cooler,
denser air. Respiration is a form of
convection.

EVAPORATION

•Involves the changing of a
substance from it’s liquid
state to it's gaseous state.
When water on the body's

surface evaporates, heat is
lost

HUMIDITY

• Severely limits evaporation

• 82' to 84' F Sweating begins

• 95' F Sweating takes over

• 115' F and 10% humidity - may
function all day

• ns
inca

w*

115' F and 80% humidity - will be
incapacitated in 30 minutes

HIGH RISK PERSONNEL

Physical condition
High intake of caffeine
MOPP gear operations
Acclimatization
Lack of visible sweating

SALT REPLENISHMENT

• MRE's

• Normal salting of meals

• Additional salting

TOOLS FOR PREVENTION

• Water containers

• Hot weather survival kits

• Water Bag and desalination kit

WATER PROCUREMENT

• Frigid Areas

• Sea

• Beach

• Desert

FRIGID AREAS

• Snow and Ice

• Grayish colored Ice

• Bluish colored Ice

Sea

Never drink salt water without
desalting it first.

Beach

• Fresh water ponds or lagoons

• Heat water and catch steam

• Improvise heating

Desert

• Dry lake beds

• Look for green vegetation

• Animal tracks

• Sand dunes

• Cacti

WATER COLLECTION

• Rocky areas

• Above ground solar still

• Below ground solar still

• Purifying water

HAZARDS DURING
SURVIVAL

• Urine

• Blood

• Sea water

• Animals

OTHER INJURIES

Sunburns

REFERENCES

FM 21-76 Survival

FM 21-11 First Aid for Soldiers

FM 1-301 Aeromedical Training for
Flight Personnel

QUESTIONS?